Is your hot water service on its way out?

When was the last time you thought about your hot water service? Never? Well that’s the great thing about them. They can carry on doing their job for years without a worry. Its not until they stop doing their job that you finally pay some attention. More often than not your hot water service will malfunction when you least expect it. Maybe the family from interstate are over for the weekend, or you’re hosting Christmas at home; either way the last thing you would need is no hot water. But there is good news, it doesn’t have to be this way. If you’re aware of the warning signs, then disaster can usually be averted.

Age – The most obvious sign that your hot water service is nearing the end would be its age. A good life span for any hot water service is around 10 years. Anything more than that is a bonus, but can be achieved if well maintained.

Water colour – If you have reddish or brown water continuously coming out your taps, treat it as a heads up from your hot water service that its almost time. Discoloured water as described indicates that the inside tank is rusted, which will eventually lead to leaks.

Laundry – Be sure not to leave corrosive chemicals near your hot water service, as these can give off fumes which may be drawn into the water heater, corroding it from the inside. More of than not these chemicals are stored in the household laundry, so that’s something to keep in mind.

Noise – Is your hot water service making a rattling noise? Maybe the sacrificial anode has broken off. Anodes are used in order to prevent rust to the tank. Once they are worn out, the tank will begin to react with the water causing rust. A sacrificial anodes life span depends highly on the quality of the water, and it is well known that water quality in Adelaide is not the best, so it would pay to check your anode before its too late.

It is important to remember that your hot water service can fail at any time without the above warnings. However, looking for the signs will usually give you time to prepare. If this article relates to your current situation, i would advise that you begin your research on purchasing a new hot water service.

As always, for any advice or quotation please feel free to contact us, we’re happy to help!